Have you had your mammogram?

Most women have an anniversary date in their calendars for a mammogram, but is this a date you enjoy?

It was about five years ago when I heard about something different . . .

Thermography

What is Thermography?

It’s a non-invasive test that involves digital infra red cameras usually attached to lap top computer (as many technicians are mobile).  The thermal imaging technicians, which are many times nurses or doctors, take a series of photos.  These photos are then read by a radiologist or thermal imaging  specialist; they are looking for abnormalities, including hot spots — differences between the two breasts.

For me, this made absolute sense.  Why put radiation into your body which can indeed cause cancer?

My thermographer shared that studies showed that Thermography could show abnormalities eight to twelve years before the cancer was large enough to appear in a mammogram.

How does a thermogram of the breast identify breast tissue at risk for developing cancer?

Dr. Haase explains the body acts as a near-perfect radiator, which means each side of the body will release the same amount of heat in symmetric patterns, unless there is a specific reason not to.

More heat released indicates either increased metabolic activity or blood flow in an area. This can be a result of inflammation, trauma, fibrocystic breast disease, or a very early warning sign of potential cancerous tumors. In addition, the character and pattern of blood vessels can give clues to the health and hormonal balance of the surrounding tissue. While urine, blood, and saliva tests are useful to
determine the overall level of hormones in the body, they do not take into account the fact that breast tissue produces its own estrogens which dramatically affect breast health. When detected thermographically, these patterns may be addressed proactively.
Here is what the International Academy of Clinical Termography writes . . .

Breast thermography has been researched for over 30 years, and over 800 peer-reviewed breast thermography studies exist in the index-medicus.

In this data base well over 250,000 women have been included as study participants. The numbers of  participants in many studies are very large ranging from 37,000 to 118,000 women. Some of these studies  have followed patients up to 12 years. Breast thermography has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90%.
Studies show that:

**An abnormal infrared image is also the single most important marker of high risk for developing breast cancer
**8 times more significant than a first order family history of the disease.
**A persistent abnormal thermogram caries with it a 22x higher risk of future breast cancer.
**When added to a woman’s regular breast health checkups, a 61% increased survival rate has been realized.
**Finally, when used as part of a multimodal approach (clinical examination + mammography + thermography)    95% of early stage cancers will be detected.

**A positive infrared scan may indicate the presence of many different breast abnormalities such as    mastitis, benign tumors, fibrocystic breast disease, cancer, and others.

**Just as unique as a fingerprint, each patient has a particular infrared map of their breasts. Any   modification of this infrared map on serial imaging (images taken over months to years) can constitute    an early sign of an abnormality. In patients without cancer, the examination results are used to   indicate the level of possible future cancer risk. Consequently, in the absence of other positive   tests, an abnormal infrared image gives a woman an early warning. By maintaining close monitoring of    her breast health with serial infrared imaging, self breast exams, clinical examinations, and other tests,    a woman has a much better chance of detecting cancer at its earliest stage and preventing invasive tumor growth.

The image to the left shows a significant amount of heat and vascularity (angiogenesis) in the right breast, especially over the lump in the upper outer quadrant.  In the image on the right, the left breast is shown to be cool with a normal limited vascular pattern.

In the third  image the right breast with the area of the lump directly facing the infrared detector. The increased heat and vascularity is very evident.

The patient was sent back to her doctor with a recommendation for an immediate biopsy of the lump.

The biopsy confirmed that the lump was cancer.

Breast thermography’s ability to detect a pre-cancerous state of the breast, or signs of cancer at an extremely early stage, lies in its unique capability of monitoring the temperature variations and blood vessel alterations produced by the earliest changes in tissue physiology .

Here are a few more testimonies in support of Thermography from Doctors:

Infrared imaging, based more on process than structural changes, and requiring neither contact,   compression, radiation nor venous access, provides pertinent and practical complimentary information to both clinical examination and mammography. Quality controlled abnormal infrared images heighten our index of suspicion in cases where clinical or mammographic findings are equivocal or nonspecific and signal the need for further investigation rather than observation. With the addition of infrared imaging, our sensitivity of image detection has increased from 83% to 93%.

John Keyserlingk, M.D., Ph.D.
Oncological Surgeon, Ville Marie Breast and Oncology Center
Department of Oncology – St. Mary’s Hospital, Montreal, Quebec

***

Every woman should include breast thermography as part of their regular breast heath care. I have recommended the use of this technology extensively over the years in my newsletter. Thermography has the unique ability to “map” the individual thermal fingerprint of a woman’s breasts. Any change  in this map over the course of months and years can signal an early indication of possible tumors
or other abnormalities. In fact, studies have shown that an abnormal infrared image is the single  most important indicator of high risk for developing breast cancer.
Susan M. Lark, M.D.
Distinguished Author and Leading Expert in Women’s Health
***

Women need to know that breast thermography is a promising and safe technology that is a welcome addition to helping women create breast health.

Christiane Northrup, M.D.
Noted Author and Leading Expert in Women’s Health
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Two years ago I researched breast thermography for an article in my newsletter and I was impressed with what I found. Finally, there was a sensitive test to support the information from mammograms. In addition, it could also detect potential problems at a very early stage.

For years, I’ve been looking for a test to offer my patients who refuse mammograms. Some are concerned about cumulative radiation and complications from compression, and others have personal reasons for refusing this test. Yet, to do nothing is to put their heads in the sand, and this doesn’t save lives.

With all this information in hand, I decided to find out first hand what this technology was all about.   I contacted Dr. Amalu and he spent some time going over the research and background of breast thermography and provided me with a tour of his facility. I also decided to have Dr. Amalu perform a breast thermogram on me. I was pleasantly surprised with the comfort and ease of the examination.

I found in my research, and personally, that thermography can help a woman take a possible pre-cancerous condition and turn it around. It supports mammography and provides additional information. Prevention is the gold standard of health care. In my opinion, breast thermography should be part of every woman’s yearly exam to help prevent breast cancer, and for early detection.

In my opinion, Dr. Amalu is providing a lifesaving service in his center. I will continue to have regular thermograms and intend to keep writing about it in my newsletter until there are centers throughout the country.

Nan Kathryn Fuchs, Ph.D
Editor, Women’s Health Letter

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My patients are overjoyed to find out about how breast thermography can help them maintain their breast health. Not only can the test pick up abnormalities long before they manifest via mammography, but it can also detect patterns of estrogen dominance, a possible precursor to breast cancer, which we can then work to change by balancing a woman’s hormone profile naturally.

And it’s so simple and painless. My own experience of having a thermogram at Dr. Amalu’s imaging center  was very comfortable and took about 30 minutes. Multiple images from different angles were taken of my breasts and digitally processed by a sophisticated computerized system. I had had a recent breast ultrasound, wherein they could barely find the small superficial lump I had discovered. It was reassuring
to add thermography to my other tests for a more comprehensive examination.

I feel that is it important for every woman to have regular breast thermograms. Every new patient is informed about breast thermography and I provide them with a brochure that explains the procedure at the Pacific Chiropractic and Research Center. I feel confident in recommending Dr. Amalu’s thermography services to all of my patients.

Carol Knight, M.D.
Private Practice – Women’s Health

***

While this technology has been available for 30 plus years and was used extensively in chiropractic diagnosis and was being researched as an alternative for mammography, but insurance companies chose not to cover the cost of Thermography and its mass appeal dropped off.
Even though I pay out of pocket for my Thermography exam, it’s the right choice for me and my lifestyle. I am impressed by the research behind this diagnostic tool . . . and want to personally encourage you to consider researching it for your health (if you’re a gal) or recommending it to the women in your life.

One of the keys to optimal health is creating an alkaline environment in the body, and the Liberation Wellness way of eating is one of the steps towards alkalinity.

For further reference, you may wish to reference these websites:

http://www.breastthermography.com/

http://www.maxwellclinic.com/thermography_controversy

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Debbie Wysocki is the owner of Women with Dreams and residual Money secrets – companies that empower the average person to live an extraordinary life by teaching how to build profitable businesses in the network marketing arena.  She is a wife, mom, volunteer, a top producer in the MLM industry, a wellness educator,  a real estate investor, author, trainer, and former Beverly Hills financial analyst who is passionate about helping others succeed. Her motto is ‘How you do anything, is how you do everything!’ To see more of Debbie’s posts, go to:  www.WomenWithDreams.com/Blog For more information or to contact Debbie directly at Debbie@WomenWithDreams.com or 954-781-6629